Wellington Phoenix have announced coach Ufuk Talay will depart the club at the end of the Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Talay had been tipped to leave the Phoenix after four Isuzu UTE A-League seasons at the helm, with the 47-year-old’s contract set to run out at the end of the campaign.
The club confirmed on Friday afternoon that he would not renew his contract when Wellington’s season comes to a close and is set to seek a “new coaching challenge”.
Wellington also confirmed they would announce a new senior men’s coach next week.
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“I’ve got a lot of gratitude towards the club as the Phoenix gave me my first opportunity as a head coach,” Talay said.
“Thank you to the chairman and the board for believing in me and sticking by me.
“Thanks also to the players and staff I’ve worked with over the past four years and, last but not least, the fans for their incredible support.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Wellington Phoenix, but I’m ready for a new chapter in my coaching career.”
Talay leaves the club as Wellington’s most successful coach, winning 41% of the 103 league matches he has managed since taking over in 2019, and claimed 1.45 points per game.
The former A-Leagues champion led Wellington to finals in two of the three previous seasons, which included a club-record third-place finish in his first campaign and being named PFA coach of the Team of the Season.
His achievements were made all the more impressive given the club were largely based out of Australia due to border closures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wellington are on track to make finals again this year, sitting fifth on the table but are currently riding a three-game losing run heading into the last three matches of the season.
“Ufuk has had a massive impact on the Phoenix from the moment he arrived in Wellington four years ago and he will leave foundations that we can build on,” Wellington Phoenix chairman Rob Morrison said.
“He’s been a fantastic coach for us, and has put in place structures and methodologies that we will continue to use in the future.
“I would have loved for Ufuk to stay on, but he has always had aspirations to coach beyond the A-League and I have no doubt he is good enough to do so.
“We have spoken a lot about his future and his desire to coach internationally and I know he’ll be a success wherever in the world he lands.
“I sincerely wish him all the best.”
Speculation surrounding his future mounted after star striker Oskar Zawada said yesterday, he would be playing under the tutelage of a different coach.
Talay had previously been overlooked for the New Zealand national team position and has been linked with a move to Melbourne Victory.
READ: Wellington star reveals future plans of coach Talay & earmarks him for one of Europe’s top leagues
“The boss, maybe that’s his dream as a coach and he’s decided not to extend his contract,” he said.
“I think he has big potential as a coach. I think he has a chance to do something good in Europe.
“I think he would be a very good coach in the Netherlands because he likes to play on the ground and has his own tactics.”
Wellington host Brisbane Roar this Sunday, before consecutive road clashes against Western Sydney Wanderers and Macarthur FC to round out the regular season.
